It's no surprise that us PNW folk don't see much sun in the fall & winter seasons. Most people overlook the importance of vitamin D. Vitamin D can cause such illnesses as fatigue, depression, skeletal diseases, metabolic disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, infections, and cognitive disorders.

The Institute of Medicine recommends a minimum daily allowance of 600 IU of vitamin D per day and 800 IU per day for people over age 70. People living in the PNW are advised to take 1,000 to 1,500 IU daily due to our limited exposure to the sun compared with other areas of the country, particularly during winter. By supplementing & eating vitamin D rich foods such as salmon, tuna, & eggs we can prevent seasonal effective disorder (SAD) that many of us feel in those gloomy winter months!